Bookshelf Roundup 08/22/20: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I summarize what I’ve finished reading in the last week and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
Received for Review
My thanks to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received, and be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages for more details and full descriptions!
First, I was so excited to get a copy of Red Noise by John P. Murphy, which I’ve seen described as a Samurai space western. I have a vague recollection of answering to an email pitch about it earlier this year, but as this was at the beginning of coronavirus shutdown chaos, it had completely slipped my mind. I’m so happy that I eventually received the book, with huge thanks to Angry Robot!
This week, I also received a finished copy of Ink & Sigil by Kevin Hearne with thanks to Del Rey. This is the first book of a spin-off series based on the author’s Iron Druid Chronicles universe, and I’m looking forward to discovering all the new characters and stories it has to offer!
And also thanks to Tor Books for sending me a finished copy of The Last Uncharted Sky by Curtis Craddock, the third book in The Risen Kingdoms series. I’m absolutely in love with this world and can’t wait to get back in.
In the digital haul, courtesy of Tantor Audio I received a listening copy of Yellow Jessamine by Caitlin Starling. I had mixed feelings for her book The Luminous Dead, but I’m really hoping this one will work better for me. The good news is that it’s a novella so it’s short, and its description does seem more in line with the type of horror I enjoy, involving a mysterious plague in a dying city.
Reviews
The Suicide House by Charlie Donlea (4 of 5 stars)
Silver in the Wood/Drowned Country by Emily Tesh (3.5 of 5 stars)
Automatic Reload by Ferrett Steinmetz (3.5 of 5 stars)
Driftwood by Marie Brennan (3.5 of 5 stars)
This Week’s Reads
Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read! Let me know what you plan on checking out. Until next time, see you next Roundup!
The BiblioSanctum 
Yellow Jessamine seems intriguing, Mogsy. Looking forward to your review of this one.
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Thanks, I look forward to listening to it too.
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That sky book looks cool! I have to check the first to remember the series
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It’s a fantastic series! So glad the third book is out.
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I really like the cover for The Last Uncharted Sky, I might have to check out that series. And I’ve been curious about Kevin Hearne’s books for a while now, but for some reason I keep avoiding them.
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It’s a fantastic series, the Risen Kingdoms! Do check it out if you have the chance. And I really enjoyed Ink & Sigil. I actually like it more than the Iron Druid series, which I thought had a really annoying protagonist 😛
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The fact that I’m finding Yellow Jessamine intriguing means that I’ve coming to grips with my problems concerning plague stories… 😉 It’s true that we are very adaptable creatures!
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Haha, I never really stopped reading plague stories!
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Hello Mogsy. You have made all those books sound good. It seems fantasy novels are everywhere these days and although I always hesitate to read them, I always find myself sinking into their worlds.
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I’m predominantly a sci-fi/fantasy reader actually, though lately I’ve been venturing more into mysteries and thrillers 🙂
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OOh nice new reads! I STILL need to read the rest of The Iron Druid series! I’m glad to see Kevin expanded the world! I enjoyed the first half of the series that I read. I fell behind once they turned hardcover! Lol. Still have them all lined up to read though.
Hope you enjoy all the newest additions!
My StS will be up tomorrow, so stop by then if you can!
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower 🙂
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I only read the first 2-3 books of Iron Druid, because quite honestly I found the protagonist annoying, lol! I enjoyed Ink & Sigil a lot though, and I’m excited to continue 🙂
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I also got a copy of Red Noise this week! I’ve heard pretty good things about it. Now to try to fit it in…
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LOL same here, I don’t know how I will find the time…
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I really need to read The Risen Kingdoms series – it keeps catching my eye.
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It’s a great series, I can’t wait to dive into book 3!
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Good to see more physical books coming in! I’m about a third of the way through Ink & Sigil so far, hope I like it as much as you did.
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I ended up really enjoying it. It’s humorous, but it also wasn’t quite as juvenile as the Iron Druid series. I stopped at book 2-3 with that one because Atticus started grating on my nerves. Al, I liked much better!
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I’ve already made it farther through Ink& Sigil than I did on the Iron Druid 😅
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Ink & Sigil looks like a lot of fun! I’ve never read The Iron Druid series but I’ve had it recommended to me, and the book I did read by him I really liked.
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I never got far with his Iron Druid series, because I found the protagonist a bit annoying. I had a great time with Ink & Sigil though, so I hope this one will be a winner 🙂
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I’m looking forward to checking out Ink & Sigil as I’m a big IDC fan. 🙂
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I hope you’ll enjoy it! I think you’ll love the protagonist Al, he’s great 🙂
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This is just another reminder that I really need to read that Curtis Craddock series!
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Haha, you really do! It’s an awesome series with some great world building and characters.
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Hopefully I will find the time/be in the mood for it soon. 🙂
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I really want to read the Curtis Craddock series, I’ve had the first book for a while.
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Ahh! You need to check it out 🙂 It’s a great series and I’m so excited to read this third one.
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Samurai space western? :O Damn, marketing agents are very good at their job, I’m intrigued!
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Oh man, publicists and their pitches – they get me every time with anything described as “westerny” 😀
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I need to seriously catch up – I have 2 and 3 of the Curtis Craddock books. I just need to find the time to dive in.
Lynn 😀
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